Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-02
RAILROAD FARE.
The General Passenger Agents Meet
and Make Lengthy Report on the
Interstate Commerce Bill.
They Interpret Its Meaning and suggest
Rules for the Government of the
Matter In Question.

CHICAGO, Ill, March!1 1.-The genera
passenger agents of the various roads il
have just submitted to the general mana
gers their report regarding the interpre
/ tation and application of the Interstate
commerce law as relating to passenger
traffic. The recommendations made a:
regards the future conduct of the traffic
by these roads will have yet to be ratified
by the general managers. As the West
ern and Northwestern Passenger Associs
ton, as well as the passenger depart
ment of the Central Traffic Association
recommended the adoption of substan-
TALLY the same method for do
| ing business under the new law
this report is more than of ordinary
interest. The main difficulties, the report
says, encountered in giving practical
effect to the best features Of the law are
found in section % in relation to the
proviso therein, "nothing in this act
shall apply to the issuance of mileage,
excursion or Communication passeng r
tickets" The view of the general
passenger agents is this simply means in
regard to those tickets that the rates for
same are not required to be published as
in case of the regular local tariff, and
they may be changed from time to time
without required notice, as in case of
rates in tie published tariffs,
but in the matter OF open
rates to all in case of mileage
tickets and of excursion rates being used
and as to commutation business with
equal rights to ell classes in the use CT
the tickets under this proviso of law,
Remedies now existing at common law
or by statute apply against discrimina-
ton and uDreaSonEbleness. For more
definite and concise consideration, the
subject has been divided into the follow
ing heads: What does the law specifically
require to be done by common carriers,
subject to it's provisions What is in
ferentially permitted and consistent and
not forbidden? What does the law
specifically forbid ? What does the law
inferentis!ly forbid; is believed to be in
consistent or is not desirable to DE done
The report says: In regard to the first
question, common carriers are required
to apply the provisions of the interstate
law to passenger business ftom enc state
or territory Of the United States, or Dis
trlct of Columbia, to any other state,
territory, or from any place in the United
States to an adjacent foreign country
or from any place in the United States,
through foreign country, to any other
place in the United States, or to or IRON
e foreign country 20 or from any state or
territory. 1t requires that business car
ried within the United States or terri
tories to or from adjacent foreign coun-
tries shall be amerable to the same rules
as apply on Interstate business. All
charges made for any service shall be rea-
sonable and Just. For like and con-
temporaneous service, and for transporta-
ton of like traffic under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions, like
charges shall be made. 1t requires that
every coTmon carrier shall print in large
type, or at least the size of ordinary plea,
and keep for public inspection in every
depot or station, showing the rates OF
fare for transportation of passengers and
property, plainly stating the places upon
the railroad between which passengers
and property will be carried. It requires
ten days notice of any advance
in rates, but reductions may be made
without previous notice; but when made
shall be Immediately publicly posted.
Every common carrier shall file its tariff
with the commission, and shall promptlo
notify the commission of all changes
made in the same. Every common car
rier shall file with the commission copies
of all contracts, agreements and arrange
men,s with other common carriers and
joint tariffs, which shall be published
when directed by the commission, which
is to prescribe the measure of publicity.
1t authorizes the commission to require
annual reports in such style and manner
as the commission may require. 1t re
quires publication Of tariff rates which
apply only to roads owned, operated,
leased or controlled by each independent
corporation. For example, the Chicago
and Northwestern Is not required
to publish rates from its sta
lions to points OF the Chicago,
st. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha.
Competing lines are not compelled to in
terchange business from common point
to point local to one of them, and on
which one would otherwise get the entire
haul, provided, however, il such connect
ing line receives business from one con-
Meeting line it must not discriminate
against other sections. Regarding sub
ject No. . the law inferentially permits
first, second and third emigrant classes
of p ssengeIs if the accommodations are
as varied as the classes. Children under
five years of age, accompanied by parents
or guardians, may be carried iree
Children of five CT under twelve yesrs of
age may be carried at half fare. 1t infer
entially permits special additional charges
for special trains or other unusual SER
vice. 1t inferentielly permits variation
in charges based upon the restricted
of tickets 1t inferentially
permits the issuance of mileage, ex-
cursion or accommodation passenger
tickets, but does not permit dis
in favor of any person.
For example, rates made in favor of any
body, religious, secular, Sc
cret, etc, must be contemporaneously
available to any person. 1t permits re-
duced rates to ministers of religion, and
free transportation to railway employees. !
As the greater includes the less, il also |
lnferentia!ly permits the Issue of reduced |
rates to railway employees. There is |
nothing in The law in relation to COM
missions, any more than there is in rela- |
ton TO the payment of any other compen- |
sation Of any character. 1t will therefo. e |
be for the general managers to determine !
whether the payment of commissioners
shall be continued. The question OF |